Portrait of a lady c.1675
A member has been in touch seeking comments on this portrait of an unknown lady c.1675, style of Beale/Lely, uncleaned.
Click on the images to enlarge, and please use the comments function below to post your response, thank you.
Comments
Further to my posting it has been suggested that the painting stylistically resembles that of the Scougall family, Scottish School. Scotland also has a high proportion of red heads at 13% compared to global average of 1-2%.
Dear Peter,
I have recently come across your post regarding your female portrait. I would say without doubt that it is by Mary Beale. I would think the sitter had brown hair which might look red under the discoloured varnish.
Do you know anything about the provenance of the portrait? I see on the verso photograph it was at Christie’s at some stage. Beale didn’t tend to paint oval portraits so it might have been cut down from a 30×25” format although it could indeed have originally been an oval.
I would think your date of c. 1675 to be correct, the style of painting and brushwork would seem in-keeping with other portraits by Beale from this period.
You may have already pinned down the artist as I see your query is from some time ago but do get in touch if you would like any further information.
Best wishes, Peter Harrison